It’s part of the Google Maps API,
small glitch where the map is generated and then the coordinates of a mashup overlay and a starting lat long from the overlay are processed.
So the map starts at 0.0000, -0.0000 then receives the location from the mashup, then the map is re-rendered at the location where the mashup directs it to go.
happens pretty often, so n conspiracy, just a programmer who hasn’t found the support doc on the google maps API forum.
Mine starts on a picture of the USA, though. Does it depend on where you choose as your start position?